Performing skills of Li Yundi in the context of China's leading trends in the piano art development

Abstract

The article examines how the performing skills of the outstanding Chinese pianist Li Yundi have been formed. Chinese piano art in a short time has reached the significant success. As Chinese performers have made a rapid rise in their skills, we can speak about the formation of special musical-performing principles, based on a strong national basis. Li Yundi's career success owed not only to a successful teaching methodology, but also to a deliberate state policy. The formation of Chinese piano pedagogy lies in the assimilation of European pianist-teachers' experience and the preservation of ancient Chinese national traditions. Chinese pedagogues-pianists often use elements of ancient art ‘Qigong’. The use of teaching methods in the two performing styles of "Wen" and "Wu" traditionally established in Chinese culture is also important.

This work is intended to identify the leading developmental trends in Chinese piano performing and their role in the formation of young Chinese pianist Li Yundi's performing skills.The article reveals the peculiarities of Chinese piano performing, with its integration of European piano school performing traditions. Emphasis is placed on the performing problems of Chinese pianists' interpretation of European composers' piano works. Li Yundi, one of the finest performers of Frideric Chopin's works, is a notable example of Chinese piano pedagogy's successes in the multifaceted development of the pianist's personality.